Danish
A Digital Single Market by 2015 - European High Level Conference
On 27-28 February 2012 more than 200 decision makers from Member States and European institutions, along with high level representatives from business, civil society and academia met for a forward looking dialogue on the political challenges of creating a truly European Digital Single Market.
The overall aim of the conference was to address the barriers towards a fully-fledged Digital Single Market - and to identify the steps needed to achieve this goal. Thus, the conference focused on the establishment of a functioning internal market for e-commerce and digital services, thereby contributing to economic growth and creating new jobs. Read the press release on the presidency website and learn more about the outcome of the conference.
The establishment of a functioning Digital Single Market will help achieve greater European competition and productivity - and thus strengthen the EU's global competitiveness and promote economic growth. The European Heads of State and Government have decided that a fully functioning Digital Single Market should be established by 2015.
The opening session, including the Video of Visions, revolved around the visions for the Digital Single Market and its economic and social benefits. Two high level roundtables and six thematic sessions adressed the opportunities and challenges for the realization of the Digital Single Market. A summery session concluded on the key messages (PDF) and the necessary political steps on Europe's path towards the Digital Single Market.
The Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Mr Ole Sohn, opened the conference (read his opening address here) together with Mr Anthony Whelan, Head of Cabinet to Vice-President Neelie Kroes, European Commission.
The conference was organized by the Danish Business Authority in cooperation with the European Commission.
Did you miss the conference? There are plenty of opportunities to follow the debate and voice your opinion on-line via twitter using the hashtags, via the conference videos, where all 50+ presentations can be viewed on-line, and on the Digital Agenda blog.
For further infomation, head over to the online discussion.
And be sure to watch the follow-up video from Alexandra Rodríguez. Entitled Echoes of the Digital Single Market Conference is captures just that through interviews with speakers, participants and organisers.
The key messages of the conference
The main point of the closing session - From Copenhagen to Brussels - was the presentation of the 4 key messages that sums up the two days of activity in Copenhagen:
- CONNECTIVITY - Europeans must be able to get online, anywhere, anytime and on any device
- TRUST - Consumer trust and confidence in eCommerce must be strengthened
- DIGITAL MINDSET - Thinking Digital is vital for European growth
- DATA – The fuel for the European digital growth engine is our ability to harness the potential of "Big Data"